Expression of concern on unrest in the province of Tarlac

Letter to H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines,31 March, 2005

Your Excellency,

I am writing this to bring to your kind attention a matter of deep concern tothe World Council of Churches.

We have received with dismay reports of abductions, detentions without warrantsand extra-judicial killings that have taken place in the province of Tarlacwhere workers and peasants in Hacienda Luisita have been on strike. The unrestin the province began November last, as a result of the killing of seven strikingworkers by the security forces. The members of clergy and human right defenderswho have accompanied and supported the striking workers and their familieshave been consistently harassed and intimidated by the security forces.We are deeply shocked by the recent killing of Fr William Tadena on 13thMarch. Fr Tadena, the chairperson of the diocesan Committee for Social Actionand Human Rights, was an outspoken critic of militarization in the province ofTarlac and a strong supporter of the striking workers in Hacienda Luisita. He wasbrutally gunned down in front of Guevara Elementary School, Brgy Guevara LaPaz, Tarlac, by two men riding a motorcycle. In the attack, three of his colleagueswere seriously injured and had to be hospitalized. To date the local police hasfailed to make any arrests. The killing of Father Tadena is one in a series of suchincidents that have taken place in recent months where the law enforcement agencieshave failed to apprehend the culprits and bring them before the court of lawfor justice.

In the circumstances we call on your Excellency to direct the PhilippinesNational Police and the local government of the province of Tarlac to conduct anindependent and speedy investigation into this tragic incident. Immediate stepsshould be taken by the authorities to arrest those responsible for this brutal assassinationand to ensure that the culprits are brought before a court of law to standtrial for the crime committed.